Dame School · Photo: Ken Gallager · CC BY-SA 3.0FEMA expects about as much hazard damage per building in Nottingham as in the typical U.S. town, mostly from river and rain flooding
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nottingham gets a C+ for hazard risk: higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns, #69 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of that expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). Flood insurance has paid 13 claims here since 1987.
Graded on FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value (NRI v1.20, December 2025), weighted by where residents live; flood claims are shown, not graded. How hazard risk is graded
What Nottingham faces
Each hazard’s share of the building damage FEMA expects here, and how its rate compares with the rest of the country.
River and rain flooding
Shares are of FEMA’s expected building damage, the measure the grade uses; ranks compare each hazard’s building-damage rate with all 85,154 U.S. census tracts. In FEMA’s terms, river and rain flooding is FEMA’s “Inland Flooding” (rivers and streams overflowing their banks, or rain overwhelming drainage). FEMA defines coastal flooding as high or rising tides and storm surge, so surge damage is counted there. Drought isn’t listed: FEMA counts its losses in crops only.
What’s behind Nottingham’s grade
River and rain flooding is 88% of the building damage FEMA expects in Nottingham, and Nottingham’s rate of river and rain flooding damage is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts. Ice storms add 2%, at a rate in the top 8% of U.S. census tracts.
C+ #69 of 126 in New Hampshire; higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns (21,298).
All of Nottingham’s residents live in one census tract; the figures are that tract’s.
The typical New Hampshire town has higher expected damage than 58% of U.S. towns; within the state, Nottingham has more expected damage per building than 54% of New Hampshire towns.
In dollars, FEMA expects about $1.4M a year in losses across Nottingham: $1.2M to buildings, the rest to people and crops.
Does Nottingham flood? Sometimes: 13 flood claims since 1987
Every paid claim on a federal flood insurance policy in Nottingham, from FEMA’s records: 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of the 13,809 U.S. towns with a flood insurance record.
Nottingham isn’t in FEMA’s Community Rating System, which cuts flood insurance up to 45% in towns that do extra flood-proofing.
Insurance rates: Rockingham County.4 federal disasters brought FEMA money to Nottingham
Disasters that paid out in Nottingham itself (aid to households or repair grants to the Town of Nottingham), newest first, with that year’s flood claims.
- 2007Severe Storms and Flooding21 households applied for aid$52K aid approved$453K to the Town of Nottingham for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2006Severe Storms and Flooding27 households applied for aid$64K aid approved$54K to the Town of Nottingham for repairs5 flood claims paid that year
- 2003Snow$9K to the Town of Nottingham for repairs
- 2001Snow$11K to the Town of Nottingham for repairs
Rockingham County has had 29 natural disasters declared by the President since 1953, most often severe storms, then winter storms. Not counted: the 2005 Hurricane Katrina evacuee emergency, which covered counties that took in evacuees.
Old photos of Nottingham after a storm or flood belong in the town’s history. Add one, or share what you remember below.
Add to the Nottingham archive →Nottingham and its neighbors
Nottingham is 5th of the 5 graded towns here, from least expected damage per building to most. Tap a town to see its hazards.
| Town | Hazard risk | Mostly (buildings) | Flood claims |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwood | Aless damage than 85% | river and rain flooding | 1 |
| Lee | B−more damage than 50% | river and rain flooding | 12 |
| Barrington | B−more damage than 52% | river and rain flooding | 5 |
| Deerfield | C+more damage than 57% | river and rain flooding | 14 |
| Nottingham | C+more damage than 60% | river and rain flooding | 13 |
Hazard risk = FEMA’s expected yearly building damage per dollar of building value, vs. the 21,298 U.S. towns we grade; the map is shaded by fifths of the same scale. Flood claims = paid federal flood insurance claims on record.
Get ready for what Nottingham faces
A short kit for the hazards that drive the building damage here, what to check before you buy, and where neighbors get alerts.
- Turn around at flooded roads: a foot of moving water can carry off a car.
- Flood insurance usually takes 30 days to start, so buy it before the forecast.
- Keep papers and medicines up high, in a grab-and-go bag.
- Look up the address on FEMA’s flood map.
- Ask the seller or landlord whether it has ever flooded, and what flood insurance costs there.
- Get a flood insurance quote early: policies usually start 30 days after you buy.
Know where neighbors sign up for alerts? Add it to the Handbook so everyone has it.
Questions about natural hazards in Nottingham
Is Nottingham at risk for natural disasters?
On FEMA’s National Risk Index, Nottingham has higher expected damage per building than 60% of U.S. towns: C+ for hazard risk, #69 of 126 in New Hampshire. Most of the expected damage is river and rain flooding (88%). The figures are for the one census tract the town shares with its neighbors. This is FEMA’s model of an average year for today’s buildings, not a forecast.
Does Nottingham flood?
Flood insurance has paid 13 claims in Nottingham since 1987, $130K in all, or 5.9 per 1,000 homes, more than 64% of U.S. towns with a flood insurance record. 4 properties have flooded more than once.
Is Nottingham in a flood zone?
Flood zones are drawn street by street, so the answer depends on the address: look it up on FEMA’s flood map. In Rockingham County, 37% of homes in mapped flood zones carry federal flood insurance, and 2.2% of all homes do.
How much is flood insurance in Nottingham?
FEMA’s Community Rating System list shows no discount for Nottingham’s flood program. Premiums depend on the building; policies usually start 30 days after you buy, so get a quote early.
What was the biggest storm in Nottingham?
By FEMA money that reached Nottingham, Severe Storms and Flooding (2007): 21 households applied for aid, $52K approved, and $453K to the Town of Nottingham for repairs.
Is Nottingham at risk from river and rain flooding?
It is the largest share of the building damage FEMA expects here (88%), and Nottingham’s rate for it is higher than 77% of U.S. census tracts.
Storm stories
Memories, warnings and help from neighbors in Nottingham.
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (December 2025), census-tract table, combined by where Nottingham’s residents lived in the 2020 census; OpenFEMA: NFIP redacted claims, multiple-loss properties, community status book and residential penetration rates, housing assistance (owners and renters), public assistance funded projects, hazard mitigation properties and disaster declarations. Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. Preparedness tips: Ready.gov. FEMA’s model is an average of expected damage, not a forecast. How hazard risk is graded.